Device having a tactile effect

ABSTRACT

A packaging and applicator device, including a first part; and a second part that is suitable for turning relative to the first about an axis of rotation; one of the parts including a resiliently deformable tab that is made in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the corresponding part, and the other part including a portion in relief, the tab and the portion in relief being arranged to co-operate in such a manner that turning the second part relative to the first causes the tab to pass over the portion in relief by bending, with a component of the bending being parallel to the axis of rotation, such passage over the portion in relief being accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that is suitable for being felt by the user.

The present invention relates to packaging and applicator devices, in particular devices used in cosmetics.

For example, these may be devices containing a makeup or care product composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to make mascara packaging and applicator devices with a portion in relief on the container at the base of the neck and with a tooth on the closure cap, which tooth is capable of passing over the portion in relief by deforming resiliently in order to generate a tactile sensation that is felt by the consumer as confirming that the container is closed.

It is found that plastics material wears away and deforms after multiple successive openings of the container, such that said sensation tends to reduce in intensity, or even becomes imperceptible.

A solution consisting in increasing the size of the tooth so as to compensate for the wear of said tooth is not entirely satisfactory, since that increases the force to be exerted to open or to close the container, and that may be perceived negatively by the consumer.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, there exists a need to improve still further devices that make it possible to create a hard point when opening or closing a screw-fastened container, and more generally to create a tactile sensation in any packaging, dispensing, or application device in which one part may turn relative to another.

Devices having a tactile effect are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,656, EP 0 732 271, and FR 2 646 066. Application FR 2 697 506 describes a locking device for locking the closure of a cap screw-fastened on a container.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging and applicator device, comprising:

a first part; and

a second part that is suitable for turning relative to the first about an axis of rotation;

one of the parts including a resiliently deformable tab, and the other part including a portion in relief, the tab and the portion in relief being arranged to co-operate in such a manner that turning the second part relative to the first causes the tab to pass over the portion in relief by bending (i.e deflecting), with a component of the bending being parallel to the axis of rotation, such passing over the portion in relief being accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that is suitable for being felt by the user.

The term “component of the bending” being in some direction, should be understood to mean at least a portion of the flexible tab moves in that direction.

The flexible tab of the invention is different from a tamperproofing tab and it may bend in reversible manner and without causing damage, including when the device is used for the first time.

By using a flexible tab in the invention, the problem of wear of the tooth or of deformation of the plastics material as in the prior art is avoided, and it is possible to benefit longer from the production of a satisfactory tactile sensation, but without making it more difficult to turn one part relative to the other.

By way of example, it is possible to obtain a closing torque that is substantially constant during the lifetime of the device.

The flexible tab may be made with a free end, or, in a variant, it may be connected at both ends to the part that carries it, and, in this event, it may for example have a middle portion that moves while the tab is bending, with this movement including a component that is parallel to the axis of rotation. The movement may take place only parallel to the axis of rotation.

The length of the tab may be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm, for example.

The part that carries the flexible tab may also include an end-of-turning-stroke abutment that may bear against said portion in relief. The portion in relief may present a sloping surface against which the tab bears while the portion in relief is in contact with the abutment. This may contribute to holding the second part in a predefined position at the end of its turning stroke.

The first part may belong to a container, or may even be constituted by a container, and the second part may belong to a closure member of the container, or may even be constituted by a closure member of the container, and may be the part that carries the flexible tab.

For example, the second part may be arranged to screw-fasten on the first. The second part may thus include a threaded skirt that is arranged to screw-fasten on a threaded neck of the container. By way of example, the tab is formed on a mounting skirt, e.g. internally-threaded, of a closure cap, and the portion in relief may be made at the base of the neck of the container onto which the mounting skirt is screw-fastened.

The second part may also constitute or belong to a push-button that is actuated by the user so as to act on a pump or a valve of an aerosol flask, e.g. the push-button being movable relative to the first part axially, in addition to being movable in rotation.

By way of example, the push-button is movable between a first position that enables it to be actuated so as to dispense the composition, and a second position that prevents such dispensing. The portion in relief may prevent the push-button from being actuated while said push-button is not in the first position. The push-button may include a notch for receiving the portion in relief and for enabling the push-button to be actuated while said push-button is in the first position. The second part may include an end-of-turning-stroke abutment that is adjacent to the above-mentioned notch.

The push-button may include two flexible tabs, made in accordance with the invention, that are associated with two corresponding portions in relief, so as to generate a first tactile sensation on reaching the position that enables actuation, and a second tactile sensation on reaching the position that prevents dispensing.

The second part may also be movable relative to the first between a dispensing position, in which a passage enabling the composition to be dispensed is open, and a closed position, in which said passage is closed by the second part.

By way of example, the second part may include a hole that comes to face a supply channel for supplying composition from the first part when the second part is in the dispensing position. The second part may close the channel in the closed position. The second part may include two flexible tabs that are associated with dispensing and closed positions respectively. Thus, one of the flexible tabs generates a tactile sensation on reaching the closed position, and the other on reaching the dispensing position.

Whatever the exemplary embodiment, the or each flexible tab made on a part may, when at rest, slope towards the other part.

The or each flexible tab may be made in the thickness, e.g. lying in the range 0.4 millimeters (mm) to 2 mm, of a tubular skirt of the corresponding part, e.g. the second part. In other words, the flexible tab may have two opposite faces that are circularly cylindrical and coaxial. The tubular skirt may define a grip surface that enables it to be turned.

The tubular skirt may support, directly or indirectly, a stem that carries an applicator member, e.g. a mascara brush. In some exemplary embodiments, said stem may be molded integrally with the above-mentioned tubular skirt.

The tubular skirt may be inserted into an outer cap that defines a grip surface that enables the user to manipulate it.

The tubular skirt may be made with two flexible tabs that are diametrally opposite. The two tabs may be symmetrical to each other about the axis of rotation.

The clearance of the flexible tab while passing over the portion in relief may be greater than 0.1 mm, for example, and in particular may lie in the range 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

The flexible tab may be made with or without a bead at its free end.

The height of the portion in relief may lie in the range 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

The flexible tab(s) may be molded integrally with the above-mentioned tubular skirt, out of the same material.

The portion in relief may be molded integrally with the neck of the above-mentioned container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a device constituting a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 device;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view showing the container of the FIGS. 1 and 2 device in isolation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the FIG. 3 container in isolation;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary elevation view showing the applicator of the FIGS. 1 and 2 device in isolation.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 5, showing variant embodiments of the applicator;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary perspective view showing the applicator of the FIGS. 1 and 2 device in isolation;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a variant embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 shows the FIG. 9 device after the push-button has been actuated;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are elevation views corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a device constituting another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section of the FIG. 13 device;

FIG. 15 is a cross-section on XV-XV of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows the FIG. 13 device in its closed position;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 14, of the device in its closed position;

FIG. 18 is a cross-section on XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows a variant embodiment of the flexible tab;

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The packaging and dispenser device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a container 2 and an applicator 3 that is fastenable in removable manner on the container 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container may be made with a body 5 and a neck 6 that is externally threaded, for example. At the base of the neck 6, the container 2 may include a shoulder 7 from which a portion in relief 8 may project.

In the embodiment under consideration, the container 2 presents a shape that is elongate along a longitudinal axis X and it may be made by injection-molding or by blow-molding, amongst other possible techniques. Thus, the portion in relief 8 may be molded integrally with the neck 6 and out of the same material.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 in particular, the applicator 3 may comprise a closure cap 10 and a stem 11 that carries an applicator member 12 that is, for example, a mascara brush, but that could be of any type, e.g. a flocked endpiece, a nail varnish brush, or an endpiece that retains composition by capillarity.

The stem 11 may be molded integrally with the closure cap 10 out of thermoplastic material, or it may be made by being molded with an inner cap that is then inserted in an outer cap that defines a grip surface making it possible to turn the applicator 3.

As shown, the cap 10 may include a tubular skirt 14 that is arranged to cover the neck 6, at least in part, when the applicator 3 is screw-fastened on the container.

The skirt 14 may be made with an internal thread or it may support an inner cap that carries such a thread.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the skirt 14 may be made with two flexible tabs 16 that are diametrally opposite, and two teeth 17 that are also diametrally opposite, each tooth presenting a straight flank 18 that is parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator 3. In a variant, the skirt 14 is made with only a single flexible tab 16 and a single tooth 17.

By way of example, the skirt 14 is made with two flexible tabs 16 and two teeth 17 when it does not need to be angularly positioned relative to the container.

In certain embodiments, the number of portions in relief 8 is equal to the number of teeth 17 and flexible tabs 16.

The axes X and Y coincide when the applicator 3 is fastened on the container. Each tab 16 and each tooth 17 projects downwards relative to the edge 20 of the closure cap 3, which edge extends between the tabs and the teeth and, for example, is circular in a plane perpendicular to the axis Y.

In the embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 8, each tab 16 extends obliquely with a small downward slope when the applicator is observed while being held vertically with the applicator member 12 at the bottom.

By way of example, each tab 16 projects downwards relative to the edge 20 by a distance d that is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm, and that lies in the range 0.1 mm to 2 mm, for example.

The tooth 17 may project by a distance h that is greater than the distance d, the distance h being greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, for example, and lying in the range 0.5 mm to 3 mm, for example.

The width w of the slot 25 present above the tab 16 is greater than or equal to 0.4 mm, for example, and lies in the range 0.4 mm to 2 mm, for example.

By way of example, the free edge 24 of the tab 16 slopes upwards and towards the tooth 17 when the applicator is observed while being held vertically, with the applicator member 12 at the bottom.

The tab 16 is made in the thickness of the skirt 14, i.e. the radial dimension of the tab 16 may be the same as the radial dimension of the skirt 14 outside the tab 16.

The width w of the slot 25 is sufficient to enable the tab 16 to lift upwards resiliently so as to pass over the portion in relief 8 while the applicator 3 is being closed or opened.

The portion in relief 8 is made, on one side, with a sloping flank 30, and on the opposite side, with a vertical flank 31 that comes to bear against the vertical flank 18 of the tooth 17 when the applicator 3 is fully closed, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The free edge 24 of the tab 16 may thus bear against the sloping flank 30, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. In a variant, the tab 16 does not remain in contact with the portion in relief 8 when fully closed.

While opening, the slope of the oblique flank 30 makes it easier for the tab 16 to lift up.

While closing, the passage of the tab 16 over the portion in relief 8, just before the flank 18 comes into abutment against the flank 31, generates a tactile sensation that is felt by the user.

FIG. 6 shows a variant embodiment in which the slot 25 is shorter, e.g. having a length z that is less than or equal to 1 mm, and lying in the range 0.3 mm to 1 mm, for example.

By way of comparison, in the embodiment in FIG. 5, the length z is greater than 1 mm, for example, and is 2 mm, for example.

FIG. 7 shows the possibility of making the tab 16 without a free end, e.g. with two ends 34 that are connected to the skirt 14.

By way of example, the tab 16 presents a shape that is downwardly arcuate, and the cavity 25 that is present above the tab 16 enables said tab to deform resiliently upwards so as to pass over the portion in relief 8 while the applicator is being closed.

The invention is not limited to an applicator that is suitable for being screw-fastened on a container, and, by way of example, FIGS. 9 to 12 show a variant embodiment in which the invention is applied to a push-button.

The figures show a packaging and dispenser device 1 that comprises a push-button 40 that is movable relative to a container 2, e.g. a pump flask or an aerosol flask. The push-button 40 may be made with a tubular skirt 42 that carries a dispenser endpiece 43 that may communicate with a stem of a pump or a valve, for example.

The push-button 40 may turn about an axis X between a dispensing position, and a locked position that prevents dispensing.

The skirt 42 includes a notch 44, and the container 2 is made with a portion in relief 45 that may be engaged in the notch 44 when the push-button 40 is depressed by being moved along the axis X, as shown in FIG. 10, so as to actuate the pump or valve, causing the composition to be dispensed.

The push-button 40 is also made with a tooth that serves as an abutment 17, and with at least a first flexible tab 16 that is associated with a slot 25, and a second flexible tab 46 that is associated with a slot 47. The dimensions of the tabs and slots may be the same as the dimensions of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

The flexible tabs 16 and 46 extend obliquely downwards when the device is observed with the push-button 40 at the top, as in FIGS. 9 to 12, and they also extend circumferentially towards each other, on either side of the abutment 17.

The portion in relief 45 presents a sloping flank 48 against which the end of the tab 16 may come to bear, or close to which the end of the tab 16 may come when the push-button is in its unlocked position, enabling dispensing, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, with the abutment 17 bearing against the flank 49 of the portion in relief 45.

In order to bring the push-button 40 into its locked position, starting from the dispensing position shown in FIG. 11, the user turns the push-button about the axis X, thereby enabling the flexible tab 16 to pass over the portion in relief 45, generating a tactile sensation that is perceptible to the user. During continuation of the turning movement, the portion in relief 45 may come into abutment against the opposite vertical flank 50 of the tooth of the push-button, after the tab 46 has passed thereover, which is accompanied by a tactile sensation that is perceptible to the user.

In the locked position, the edge of the skirt 42, by coming into abutment against the portion in relief 45, prevents the push-button being depressed over a stroke along the axis X that is sufficient to cause the composition to be dispensed. Thus, in the embodiment in FIGS. 9 to 12, the portion in relief 45 may perform two functions, namely firstly blocking the push-button, and secondly producing a tactile sensation.

In the variant embodiment in FIGS. 13 to 18, the device 1 comprises a container 2 together with a dispenser head 60 that is suitable for turning about an axis of rotation X relative to the container 2.

The dispenser head 60 includes a dispenser orifice 61 that, by way of example, is formed by a hole made in a tubular skirt 62 of the dispenser head.

The dispenser head 60 may include an inner portion 64 that is provided with a supply channel 65 for supplying the composition, and the skirt 62 may take up a dispensing position, shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in which the orifice 61 is in register with the channel 65, thereby making it possible to dispense the composition, and a closed position in which the orifice 61 is offset from the channel 65, thereby preventing the composition from being dispensed, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

The skirt 62 may be made with flexible tabs 16 and 46 that make it possible to generate a tactile sensation, and to hold the skirt 62 in the dispensing and closed positions respectively. In this embodiment, the tabs 16 and 46 are made extending obliquely downwards, away from each other, in the thickness of the skirt 62, from a common portion 69 of the skirt 62.

The skirt 62 is made with two abutments 64 and 65 that may come to bear against a portion in relief 66 of the container in the closed and dispensing positions respectively. The tabs 16 and 46 are disposed between the abutments 64 and 65.

In the dispensing position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the portion in relief 66 comes to be positioned between the tab 16 and the abutment 65. In the closed position shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the portion in relief 66 comes to be housed between the abutment 64 and the tab 46. The passage of one or other of the tabs 16 and 46 over the portion in relief 66 makes it possible to generate a tactile sensation.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The tab 16 or 46 may be made with some other shape, and, in particular, as shown in FIG. 19, with a rounded bead 70 that projects downwards at its free end. As can be seen in FIG. 19, the slot 25 need not extend obliquely, but may extend substantially parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation Of the part carrying the flexible tab 16.

The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” unless specified to the contrary. 

1. A packaging and applicator device, comprising: a first part; and a second part configured to turn relative to the first part about an axis of rotation; one of the first part or the second part comprising a resiliently deformable tab formed in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the corresponding first or second part; and an other of the first or second part comprising a portion in relief, the tab and the portion in relief being configured to co-operate so that turning the second part relative to the first part causes the tab to deflect when passing over the portion in relief, wherein a component of the deflection is parallel to the axis of rotation, and wherein the tab and the portion in relief are configured to co-operate to produce a tactile sensation during the passing.
 2. A device according to claim 1, the tab having a free end.
 3. A device according to claim 1, the tab having a length and the length of the flexible tab being greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.
 4. A device according to claim 1, the first part or the second part comprising the tab comprising an end-of-turning-stroke abutment that may bear against said portion in relief.
 5. A device according to claim 4, the portion in relief presenting a sloping surface against which the tab bears while the portion in relief is in contact with the abutment.
 6. A device according to claim 1, the first part belonging to a container, and the second part belonging to a closure member of the container.
 7. A device according to claim 6, the second part comprising the tab.
 8. A device according to claim 6, the second part being arranged to screw-fasten on the first, and the second part comprising a threaded skirt that is arranged to screw-fasten on a threaded neck of the container.
 9. A device according to claim 1, the second part belonging to a push-button that is actuated by the user so as to act on a pump or a valve of an aerosol flask, the push-button being movable between a first position that enables the push-button to be actuated so as to dispense the composition, and a second position that prevents such dispensing.
 10. A device according to claim 9, the second part comprising two flexible tabs that are associated with first and second positions respectively of the push-button.
 11. A device according to claim 9, the second part comprising a notch for receiving the portion in relief and for enabling the push-button to be actuated while said push-button is in the first position.
 12. A device according to claim 11, the part carrying the tab comprising an end-of-turning-stroke abutment that may bear against said portion in relief, the abutment being adjacent to the notch.
 13. A device according to claim 1, the second part comprising a hole that comes to face a supply channel for supplying composition from the first part when the second part is in the dispensing position, the second part closing the channel when said second part is in the closed position.
 14. A device according to claim 13, the second part comprising two flexible tabs that are associated with closure and dispensing positions respectively.
 15. A device according to claim 1, the tab sloping, when at rest, towards the other part.
 16. A device according to claim 1, the clearance of the flexible tab while passing over the portion in relief being greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.
 17. A packaging and applicator device, comprising: a first part; and a second part configured to turn relative to the first part about an axis of rotation; one of the first part or the second part comprising a resiliently deformable tab, and an other of the first or second part comprising a portion in relief, the tab and the portion in relief being configured to co-operate so that turning the second part relative to the first causes the tab to deflect when passing over the portion in relief, wherein a component of the deflection is parallel to the axis of rotation, and wherein the tab and the portion in relief are configured to co-operate to produce a tactile sensation during the passing, the tab moving only in parallel with the axis of rotation.
 18. A packaging and applicator device, comprising: a first part; and a second part configured to turn relative to the first part about an axis of rotation; one of the first part or the second part comprising a resiliently deformable tab, and an other of the first or second part comprising a portion in relief, the tab and the portion in relief being configured to co-operate so that turning the second part relative to the first part causes the tab to deflect when passing over the portion in relief, wherein a component of the deflection is parallel to the axis of rotation, and wherein the tab and the portion in relief are configured to co-operate to produce a tactile sensation during the passing, the second part belonging to a push-button that is actuated by the user so as to act on a pump or a valve of an aerosol flask, the push-button being movable between a first position that enables the push-button to be actuated so as to dispense the composition, and a second position that prevents said dispensing. 